Summary: In a world where there are so many ideas and opinions, how do we define what the “God Life” is supposed to look like without falling into our own wrong ideas?

In a world where there are so many ideas and opinions, how do we define what the “God Life” is supposed to look like without falling into our own wrong ideas?

I. Ministry To Sinners

Matthew 1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by R221 F121 your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look R222 at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 "Or R223 how can F122 you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 "Do R224 not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

A.Notice that this verse is not to those that simply criticize, but those who actually try to minister to people with larger sin in their own lives.

B.Verse 6 seems unrelated, but actually illustrates the dangers of trying to help sinners who will only trample upon God’s wisdom and love. Know that someone deelpy in sin will more than likely continue in that sin until God’s Spirit intervenes, like dogs return to their vomit and pigs to their mud (Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary).

II. The Source of Provision

7 "Ask, R225 F123 and it R226 will be given to you; seek, F124 and you will find; knock, F125 and it will be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 "Or what man is there among you who, F126 when his son asks for a loaf, will F127 give him a stone? 10 "Or if F128 he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how R227 much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

A.God is the sole source of our provision. We should never see ourselves as our own providers.

B.God gives good things. He also knows what to give and what not to give us. This scripture infers that God will always give us something excellent and never something bad.

III. Live Outside of Your Self

12 "In everything, therefore, R228 treat F129 people the same way you want them F130 to treat you, for this R229 is the Law and the Prophets. 13 "Enter R230 through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A.Making the shift from self-centric religion to people-centric servanthood is one of the most crucial shifts that a believe can make.

B.Narrow, greek “thlee’bo”, means something painfully narrow and pressing – something that you would have to probably walk sideways to get through. This shows us that servanthood is usually awkward as compared to the wide, spacious way of the sinners.